Liquid temperaturizing vat



Oct. 30, 1945. F, 1 MCCULLOUGH 2,388,003

' LIQUID TEMPERATURIZING VAT Fild Jan. 15, 1945 Ze Je w23/f'. 272522666 Patented Oct. 3 0, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y LIQUID TEMPERATURIZING VAT Francis J. McCullough, Chicago, Ill. Y Application January 15, 1945, `Serial No. 572,888

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a vat for cooling or heating and agitating liquid such as milk, cream or the like.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a Vat having a cooling coil spiraling around a tank and adapted to cool the walls of the tank, said coil positioned between two walls and forming a spiral pathway therewith. The pathway communicates with a well below the bottom of the tank. Water is supplied to the well. The water cooled by contact with the coil provides the Walll of the tank with a continuous cold surface Without warm spots. Another object of my invention is to provide for the return of the cooled water to the well for cooling the bottom of the tank and for recirculation.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities which are inherently possessed by my invention and which will later more fully appear.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred form of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention,

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l isa top plan view; Fig. 2, is a sectional view of the preferred form of my liquid temperaturizing vat. k

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a vat I0, having a closed bottom portion I I, with a hollow interior or well I2.

The bottom portion I I has suitable legs I3, for supporting the vaton the floor or other support. The sides of the vat are closed by an outer shell I4 and the top by a removable cover 45.

Located inwardly from said outer shell I4 are a 'pair of laterally spaced and vertically extending walls, I5 and I6. The inner of the two walls I6, forms the lining Il, for the container or tank I8 into which is poured the milk or other liquid to be stored and treated therein.

An agitator I9 has a vertical rod 20 mounted on the top of bottom portion Il and has a pair of spaced arms 4I, to the outer ends of which are attached scraper blades 42 adapted to contact lining Il. Agitator I9, is operated by motor 20 through speed reduction member 2 I.

A hollow pipe coil 22, located in the A,space 23 between walls I5 and I6 winds its way spirally upwardly from the bottom of said space to the top thereof. The coil 22 is of such a diameter as to lill the space 23 laterally and contacts the inner portions of walls I5 and I6 leaving a spiral pathway 24.

In use, brine ammonia or other cooling liquid flows through coil 22. Water is poured into pipe 25 and drops through space 26 between outer shell I4 and wall I5 to well I2. Milk, cream or other desired liquid is poured into container I8 through open top I5. Motor 28 supported. Vadjacent base II is operated and actuates pump 29 which forces the water upwardly from well I2 into spiral pathway 24, formed by the outside of coil 22 and walls I5 and I6. When the water reaches the top of pathway 24, it is directed by return member 30 into space 2B whence it drops to the well I2 for recirculation. Overow 21 is provided to drain off excess water.

While the water is circulating, motor is operated and through speed reduction means 2| rotates agitator I9.

The water continuously circulating in pathway 24 is in constant contact with cold coil 22 and because of its velocity provides an uninterrupted cold wall I6. 'Ihere are no warm spots on wall I6 because it is cooled by direct contact with coil 22 and in all other places it is cooled by the cold water between the turns of the coil. This cold wall provides the blades 22 of agitator I9 with a cold contact for more efficiently and directly cooling the milk or other liquid in container I8. It is also to be noted that theA bottom of the container I8, lies in and contacts refrigerated Water in well I2 for increased cooling of the container contents.

It is, of course, within the contemplation of my invention that heating may be used :instead of cooling for temperaturizing the contents of the container, without departing from the spirit of my invention. The pathway 24 would then be used for the circulation of hot instead of cold water.

1. A liquid temperaturizing Vat comprising a bottom portion having a well adapted to receive- Water, an outer shell, an intermediate wall spaced inwardly from said outer shell and leaving an aisle therebetween, said aisle communicating with said well, a container having its bottom portion contacting said well, said container having a wall spaced from said intermediate wall and providing a space therebetween, a hollow pipe coil containing cold producing means positioned within said walls and extending spirally upwardly therein, said coil being of such a diameter as to iill said space laterally and Contact said walls, said coil and said walls forming Ka spiral pathway, means placing said pathway in communication with said well, a return member communicating with the top of said pathway and returning to said aisle, an agitator rotatable within said container and having members contacting the Wall thereof, and a pumping means for forcing the water in the well upwardly along said spiral pathway for providing the wall of the container with a continuous cold coverage, said water dropping from said return member into said aisle and back to said Well for recirculation and for imparting cold to the lower portion of said container.

2. A liquid temperaturizing vat comprising a bottom portion having a well therein, a tank for receiving liquid with the bottom portion thereof contacting said well, a hollow pipe coil beginning at said well and extending spirally upwardly around the outer wall of said tank, an intermediate wall contacting said coil and forming with said rst wall and said coil a spiral pathway, a spaced jacket positioned around said tank,a return member extending from the top of said pathway to the space between said jacket and said intermediate wall, said coil adapted to contain a temperaturizing means, said well being adapted to receive liquid, means for pumping the liquid in said well upwardly along said pathway for imparting to the wall of said tank temperature change from said coil, said liquid adapted upon reaching the top of said pathway to pass into said return member and drop by gravity in the space between the jacket and the intermediate wall into said well, said liquid retaining some temperature change from contact with said coil for imparting the same to the bottom of the tank.

FRANCIS J. MCCULLOUGH. 

